So I’m not gonna lie…I am pretty boring in the eyeliner world. And it’s not because I work some professional job or that I consider myself to be Mrs. Conservative. Naw. I just really love black eyeliner. I wear it everyday and very rarely will I wear another color. Do I love emerald greens, bright blues and royal purples on my eyes? Yeeeep. But black liner is staple, girl. It just is. This edition of the Makeup Wars, us gals are sharing some of our favorite black eyeliners. I thought I’d stick with my faithful Urban Decay Zero, but really I’ve tried a TON of black eyeliners that I’ve loved.

They are far from cheap but I can’t get enough of Urban Decay’s pencil eyeliners. Especially that Zero. For some reason, my eyes have gotten really sensitive over the years and the only pencil that I KNOW won’t leave me tearing up is Zero. Oh, and it doesn’t budge. At all. I’ve purchased and repurchased this pencil so many times. Like, you don’t even want to know how many times…

So they suck in the foundation diversity game, but Physicans Formula makes some realllllly nice eyeliners. Their liquid and pencil eyeliners are pretty cool, but really its their dark and smooth Kohl eyeliner pencil that just makes me go gaga. I can’t get enough of it for when I really want to smoke out my eyes.

Maybelline really gave us a gem when they put put their Eye Studio Ink Pen Eyeliner. The Black version of this liquid eyeliner pencil is spectacular.

A few years back, NYX gave us an entire collection of black liners that I couldn’t get enough of. They were so cool to give us these because each liner has a different formula. Everything from matte to sattin and liquid, NYX had us covered on the black liners front.

When I really want some pop to my upper lashline, I love Essence’s Metallic black eyeliner. It has just a very small amount of shimmer that really makes the eyes stand out. And it’s only $1.99 and does darn good around water and sweaty situations.

I did a review on Urban Decay’s Perversion cream liner and I still loving that baby from the moon and back. Other runner ups are Make Up For Ever’s Aqua Cream in Shade 27 and the cult fave MAC Blacktrack gel liner.

And let’s not forget Milani as they are always there to give us budget-friendly sturdy liners in all shapes and sizes.

I could really go on and on, but I’ll stop here and let my girls share with you some of their favorite black eyeliners…

When it comes to my beauty arsenal, eyeliner seems to be poorly represented. I have fifteen varieties of blush, over fifty shades of lipstick and so many eye shadow palettes that I have honestly lost count.

However, I only have three types of eyeliner. Why only three? Because I found the only three I’ll ever need. It can be hard to find beauty products that want to stay where we put them. Lipstick smears, foundation rubs off and eyeliner smudges. I dig the retro cat-eye, but I’ve found that it can turn into raccoon eyes without much prompting. After years of fighting with my eyeliner, I decided to try out something meant to wear a bit longer.

And no, I don’t mean permanent makeup. *shudders*

NYX Cosmetics Super Skinny Eye Marker — $9

What can I say; I absolutely love this eye marker. I get a gorgeous line and it just glides on! Give it a few seconds to dry and you’re set for the day, no matter what activities you have planned.

Pros: Easy to use, great control.Cons: Only one shade available.

Glominerals Precision Eye Pencil — $16

This eyeliner pencil is great for everyday use. I usually get six to eight hours of regular wear out of it, so it’s ideal for the office or a day spent shopping. It’s available in eight gorgeous shades; my personal favorite is Plum.

Pros: Goes on easy, doesn’t tug, great for sensitive skin.Cons: Doesn’t wear well through strenuous activities, needs to be sharpened.

Chanel Stylo Yeux Waterproof Long-Lasting Eyeliner — $30

If you’re willing to spend a little more on long wearing eyeliner, this is the one to buy. Waterproof and smudge proof, it’s perfect for lounging in the pool or kicking it at the beach. It’s available in seventeen shades with a built in sharpener on the end.

Pros: Waterproof, variety of shades.Cons: Expensive.

These three great eyeliners give me a variety of looks and the kind of durability I wish I could expect from all of my makeup. Lipstick, I’m looking in your direction.

About the Author: Selina Torres spends her days face down in a pool of cosmetics for the benefit of woman-kind. When she’s not testing out different eyeliners, she’s doing freelance writing for Glisten, a fabulous new skin care company.

When it comes to gel eyeliners, very rarely do I venture off to different brands. I stick with what I know and what I’ve known for many years has been MAC’s Fluidline. Now don’t give me that look. I’m not one of those “I wear MAC everything” kind of gals. In fact, most of my makeup collection ain’t MAC Cosmetics. But let’s face it…when it comes to gel liners, MAC knows what they’re doing. I’ve tried many brands of gel liners and haven’t found one that’s comparable to my beloved Fluidline.

My only gripe with these gel liners is that there are only 3 shades of them. Not pictured is a a black called Midnight in Paris and then you’ve London Baby (brown) and Berlin Rocks (purple). These are just fantastic. I found the consistency to be a little more fluid than MAC’s Fluidlines. They are creamier and because of that, applying on the lower lashline may be a little challenging. When applying with a brush or your finger, you may have to go over your lines a second time. Essence’s liners will also work beautifully as eyeshadow bases. I do, however, recommend wearing a primer first. Especially if you’re like me and have super oily lids.

Okay, this is weird – although the the packaging pictures of London Baby looked to be brown online, I found it to be more on the dark blue-ish/gray side. Which doesn’t bother me a bit considering I don’t own any eyeliners this color. Aaaand, I was surprised at how long these stayed put. I got a good 12+ hours of wear time with London Baby on and that was during a workout.

*sigh* These liners are so dreamy.

I love everything about Essence. But you already knew that, uh? Have you tried their gel liners yet?

Cost: $3.49 a piece Where to Buy: Ulta and Ulta.com Best For: Gel eyeliner lovers.
MAC Fluidline lovers who want to try a cheaper version of gel liners

It has been forever and a day since I’ve played around with products from Too Faced. Back when Clumps of Mascara was an itty bitty beauty blog, I fell head over heels in love with Too Faced. It’s been a minute since I’ve actually purchased something but I am forever keeping them on my radar. After all, they’ve got some of the most dynamic eyeshadow palettes on the markets. Like….fo real. They also have these stunning paraben-free waterproof eyeliners too.

I am picky about eyeliners. Well, I’m not. But my eyes are. Quite frankly, I’ll wear whatever. My eyes, on the other hand, demand sturdy liners. Anything less than that will result in smudging within minutes. Simply put, Too Faced’s Perfect Eyes Waterproof Eyeliners are fantastic. Aside from actually staying put on the waterline, the formula is creamy and feels niiiiice. Because of its creamy consistency, it is perfect for smudging right on the waterline. A smudge brush conveniently sits across from the pencil making it the perfect partner for smokey eyes.

(l-r) Perfect Brown, Perfect Teal

Despite their ability to last on the waterline, I actually prefer them on the lower lashline. I am always struggling with trying to achieve an ideal cat eye and these liners make it easy because they are super duper creamy.

Perfect Brown is like any brown eyeliner. It’s perfect for gals who want a little something without looking too dramatic. I’m not the biggest fan of brown liners but this is a nice one.

And then there’s Perfect Teal, a stunning teal with a ton of personality.

But worry not. They dry quickly and remove easily with a makeup remover. The pencils go for $18 a pop which seems to be a bit steep from the Too Faced that I remember. But hey….at least you’re getting your money’s worth.

And did I mention that they were paraben-free? That totally makes the price tag a little more likable. You can get these and 4 other shades from Sephora stores and at Sephora.com.

Well, well, well…what have we here? Another affordable wonder from Essence, uh? I have totally fallen in love with this brand and their metallic eye pencils are no exception. And check this out, these pencils are only..wait for it…$1.49.

Yeahhhh buddy! I’ve been wearing these for a few weeks but wanted to take them to the beach for a mini photo shoot and to see how well they held up in the waves. When you come across an eyeliner pencil as cheap as this, you kinda hope that it’s all that and more. At least I do. My first thought is, “Gee wilikers, I certainly hope that this is better than my current overpriced eyeliner. Then I can retire it and only wear cheap eyeliners for the rest of my life.” A little overly dramatic, I know but I think about these things. Will these eyeliners have me saying buh bye to my Urban Decay 24/7 eyeliners? Not quite. But will I keep them on standby? Fer sure!

(l-r) Heavy Metal, Black Knight, Green Day

I found these pencils to be intensely pigmented making them ideal for wear on the waterline and lower lashline. Essence doesn’t say that they are waterproof but they held up with all day wear and 3 hours of beach play .

Not bad, yo…not bad at all. If you’re in the market for some new eyeliners, try these. Even if you don’t like them (which I think is highly unlikely), you’re not spending your savings on purchasing them.

Wipeouuuut!

Essence is somethin’ else, I tell ya. Everything I’ve tried from them—I’ve loved. How can this be? You can get these liners at Ulta.

I’m already a mega fan of Korres (I’ve reviewed their mascaras) and I have been hearing nothing but spectacular things about their liners. And these kids are not only 100% natural, infused with jojoba oil and paraben/sulfate-free but you also get TEN full-size pencils for $32. I hope they hold up well on the waterline. But then again, I could also use them on the lower lashline.

Um yeah, I will be running to Sephora.com right now. Cop them quickly, sisters. They can only be found at Sephora for a limited time.

I can’t be the only one lusting after these. Be honest…you want to snag them too, uh?

2 days agoby clumpsofmascaraI neeeed time to myself. Marriage and parenthood did not change this. Every morning, I wake up earlier than everyone else. And just be. No demands. No rushing. I do what I want. I sip my tea and pray and read and polish my nails. Or I do nothing. It does SO much for my sanity and peace. Mamas and daddies, give it a try. - [NOTE] This likely doesn't work with newborns. Those tiny humans own every fiber of your being. Happy Friday!

4 days agoby clumpsofmascaraSome of y'all have your coffee and then crazy folx like me blend up spinach, an apple and an entire lemon to drink. Had one kid in my stomach craving it and a kid on the outside steal half. Righteous.

5 days agoby clumpsofmascaraNail polishing in a parking lot. Look. Gotta pamper when and where you can.

3 days agoby clumpsofmascaraGood morning, risk takers! Today I'm doing something incredibly challenging and scary. I make it a habit to push myself to the limit often. You should, too. Come on. DO IT NOW!!

3 days agoby clumpsofmascara#iRepost@tjmaxx : "Wanted for fall: A bold new bag. - Mannnn, why can't I ever find items like this when I'm in TJ Maxx? A purple bag? I want one!!

1 week agoby clumpsofmascaraScooped up some new head wraps from @thewraplife . In loooooove with these prints. Can't wait to chop them for mommy & daughter twin wraps.

3 days agoby clumpsofmascaraAnd on today's agenda...food photography. I would love to be a food blogger. But I don't want to cook. Ever.

5 days agoby clumpsofmascaraMy coworker goes, "I haven't bought a lipstick in a year." Oh no!!! She must not know 'bout me. Tomorrow is National Lipstick Day and I've got to get her prepared! Packing her a nice goody bag of lipsticks. I'm the same way if you visit my house. NO ONE leaves empty-handed. Beauty goodies for all!

24 hours agoby clumpsofmascaraHomemade pasta with seafood bits. A bit salty but ohmigoodness, what a hearty and delicious stew-like bowl of flavors in Winter Park.

6 days agoby clumpsofmascaraBeen tackling my hurr these days. Which is a big deal because I'm usually pretty lazy. Test drove some @LovinMyTextures products and yessss, I LOVE them! Check out my review. It's in the bio. Much love to @lovettehair for my tri-color situation. ❤️

19 hours agoby clumpsofmascara#iRepost@occmakeup : "Introducing our first look at #LipTarRTW , launching on August 14th! Left to right: Vintage, Black Metal Dahlia, Lydia, Anime & Rx! Stay tuned as we reveal the next 5 shades next week!" --- Soooo, makeup and OCC Lip Tar fans, what do we think about this new packaging? I'm kinda excited about it!